The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has approved the relocation of two male juvenile inmates from His Majesty’s Prison to the Dennis Bowers Rehabilitation Center in Willikies, as part of efforts to separate juveniles from adult offenders and strengthen rehabilitation measures.
Director General of Communications in the Prime Minister’s Office Maurice Merchant said the decision followed an assessment of accommodation at the rehabilitation facility to ensure it meets safety, security and welfare requirements.
“Government recognizes that it cannot have juveniles, especially juveniles who have fallen short of the law, integrate with other criminals, adult criminals,” Merchant said during the weekly Cabinet briefing.
The juveniles, aged between 14 and 16, are currently housed at His Majesty’s Prison. Merchant said one of three juveniles previously held there has already completed his sentence, leaving two to be relocated.
“It is a rehabilitation effort. That’s the aim,” he said. “According to the law, juveniles must be separated and be in a juvenile facility if they have fallen short of the law.”
Cabinet was told that while the juveniles will be housed at the Dennis Bowers Rehabilitation Center, prison authorities will retain responsibility for supervision and security.
“They are inmates, and so the prison officials will have responsibility for those juveniles, but they will be at the Dennis Bowers facility,” Merchant said.
Cabinet also approved measures to strengthen transportation and emergency response coordination between the rehabilitation center and His Majesty’s Prison. Retrofitting work identified during the assessment is expected to begin immediately.
“The Ministry of Works is moving immediately to commence the work,” Merchant said, adding that an update on progress is expected to be provided to Cabinet next week.
The relocation forms part of what officials described as a permanent approach to ensuring juveniles are not housed alongside adult inmates, while enabling a more structured rehabilitation environment supported by social services professionals.
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